Midges. Do you know what a midge is? And how important midges are in the trout’s diet? Very! You’ll find midges in rivers and lakes. Most of the time, midge pupae are the fly patterns experienced fly fishers concentrate on fishing. More on what that means shortly. I just finished these flies as I complete my…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday fly is the RS2, developed by Rim Chung. This is a recent tie, following the original pattern sheet. I’ve used natural beaver dubbing and webbing from a dun colored hackle for the wing. The first time I tied this fly was in the 1990’s and for some reason thought it…
A few weeks ago, I highlighted a new page on Crooked River Flies. Well, I’ve had time to add a few fly pattern sheets and thought I’d share them with you. The best way to show my progress is with a picture of my “work in progress” fly box. Here’s what’s in it so far…60…
The Birds Stone Fly was created by Cal Bird and is this week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly. Cal Bird had a small fly shop in San Francisco in the 1940s and 50s. At least that’s what my quick Internet search found. An interesting side note is he lived across the street from Frank Matarelli. Does…
Have you ever heard the term “throw back Thursday”? Seems to be fairly common on Facebook these days. So, several weeks ago I decided to start my own version. It will be my new Throw Back Thursday Fly posts. What does that mean, you ask? Good question. I post pictures of old flies along with…
Today’s Throw Back Thursday is another fly from one of the vintage fly wallets in my collection. And I don’t know the name of it. This wet fly is one I’d fish as a hatching caddis, swimming towards the surface. Perhaps a size 12? If you know what it is, please let me know…a Black Gnat?
It’s the middle of winter and the major hatch on the river these days are Blue Wing Olives. I get confused what to call these bugs…Blue Wing Olives…Blue Wings… BWOs…Baetis … I’m no expert, but I think they are all the same insect. Or close enough for a fly fisher. To be sure, I consulted one…
How about an updated version of an old classic steelhead fly for this week’s Throw Back Thursday…the Golden Demon. Zane Grey brought this fly from New Zealand to the Rogue River in the mid-1920s. OK, perhaps this is a spey version of the original…
Look out your window and you’ll be convinced it’s a good time to attend a winter Fly Tying and Fly Fishing show. If you get a chance, attend one of the shows in your area and learn new techniques or check out new fly patterns and gear. I just returned from the Western Idaho Fly…
A Grey Hackle Peacock is this week’s Throw Back Thursday fly. An old one I found in one of my vintage fly wallets. Notice the leader tied into the fly. We don’t tie them like that anymore. Like I said – OLD. A wet fly originated in the 1700’s. Have any in your fly box?
